Rights sold: Bulgaria - SONM, Russia - AST, World English - NYRB
The novel’s title refers to the Greek tragedy of Agamemnon who, after his return from Troy, was killed by Aegisthus, the lover of his wife, Clytemnestra. The King of Agamemnon follows Nikolai Zhestovsky, a researcher and philosopher, whose modern life in the twentieth century, including current-day Russia, begins to mimic Agamemnon’s ancient tragedy. Critics praised Sharov’s last work for its profound philosophical reflections and unexpected historical parallels.
The novel sold 10,000 copies in Russia.